Saturday, September 26, 2009

Whenever I listen to the sublime original Broadway cast recording of A Little Night Music, I'm always impressed with how Stephen Sondheim establishes Fredrik Egerman in the musical's first song. Fredrik is a middle-aged lawyer whose eleven month marriage to naive 18 year old Anne has gone unconsummated. During an afternoon nap he, in true lawyerly fashion, lists all the ways he can go about seducing his wife. (His impetuous but staid "Now" is countered in a few minutes by her "Soon"). His son Henrik interjects with "Later" and eventually all three motifs are weaved together in contrapuntal soliloquies. The English major in me has always been amazed at this patter section in which he vents his sexual frustrations by listing the books he can read to get her into the mood...

"Which leaves the suggestive,But how to proceed?Although she gets restive,Perhaps I could read.In view of her penchantFor something romantic,De Sade is too trenchantAnd Dickens too frantic,And Stendhal would ruinThe plan of attack,As there isn't much blue inThe Red and the Black.De Maupassant's candourWould cause her dismay,The Brontes are granderBut not very gay,Her taste is much blander,I'm sorry to say,But is Hans Christian Ander-Sen ever risque?Which eliminates A..."